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(No MOdeL.) 2 Sheets-sheet 1. P. C. BROWN. CAR GUPLING.

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II, Z3 III INVENTOR WW c M MQ/MM l UNT'Ti-io STnTas PATENT Ormes.,

PHILP C.BROVV`N, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPEGIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 5 12,603, dated July 9, 1895.

Application filed May 13, 1895. Serial No. 549,177. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, PHILIP C. BROWN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Car-Coupling, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings, being particularly embodied in what is known as the Janney or Master Oar-Builders type of car-coupling.

The objectof myinventionhas been to pro-` Janney couplers when the cars impact one upon the other Without the knuckle havingbeen opened or set in position for coupling,

will be eliminated, since with my improved form of coupler the knuckle does not need to he opened, but the coupling will be effected equally well when the knuckle is closed;4 to provide one, moreover, in which the couplers Will-couple when meeting at an angle or when meeting out of line with each other, so as to effect coupling on a curve; further, to provide a coupler of the Janney type in which the action and pressure of each knuckle on the other will tend to close the latterinstead of to force it open, so that no locking mechanism Will be required, the knuckles being thus rendered self-locking; to provide acoupler of this type with which there shall beno possibility ot' rebound, but with which the cars will couple instantaneously, Whether impacting at the greatest velocity or at the gentlest rate of approach, and one in which provision shall be made for link-and-pin coupling Without impairing the strength of the parts. These objects I have attained in my improved form of coupling; and my invention therefore consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts which I have devised for the above ends, hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.`

Referring tothe drawings, Figure lis a plan View of one of my improved couplers, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the knuckle and guardlever. Fig. 5 is a central horizontal section of companion draw-heads, showing the position of the parts as the knuckles are passing each other to couple. Fig. 6 is asimilar View showing the position of the parts when coupling has been effected. Figs. 7 and 8 illustratethe action of the knuckles in forcing each other open when coupling out of line with each other, the former when the knuckles are nearest Vto each other and the latter when most remote.

The draw-head conforms in ge'neral contour to` that of the Janney orMaster Car-Builders type, and its mouth consists of a guard-arm 1, an intermediate portion 2,and a seat 3 for the knuckle. The knuckle tis hook-shaped, havinga short arm 5, which forms the knuckle proper or locking portion, a bridge 6, and a long forked arm 7. The latter is pivotedl to the intermediate portion 2 of the draw-head by a pivot-pin 8,and,as clearly shown in Fig. 3, is forked to permit the passage therethrough of the guard-lever 9. The lat-ter is pivoted on the draw-head at 10, and has a short arm l1, bearing on the rear side of the forks 7 of the knuckle, While its long arm l2 passes between the forks and is adapted to bear on the front or inner surface of the knuckle.

The guard-lever 9 has two functions. In the first place it serves to render the knuckles self-locking, for when coupling has been effected the end of the knucklesay on the right of Fig. -presses against the end 13 of the long arm 12 of the guard-lever of the coupler on the left and thus presses the end of the short arm 11 of said guard-lever against the rear of the knuckle and closes the knuckle. rlhus by interposing the guard-lever between the end of each knuckle and the bend or cavity of the other knuckle the result is attained that the lateral pressure of the knuckles, one against the other, instead of opening the knuckles forces them toward each other, and thus a perfectly secure coupling is always attained. The second 'function of the guardlever is to aid in opening the knuckles when it is desired to uncouple. To uncouple, the

TOO

operator pulls backward upon the knuckle by means of a chain attached to the hook or bridge-portion of the knuckle, preferably by passi-ng it through an aperture 14 in said bridge portion and securing it in the inner side. When the knuckle is pulled backwardthat is, so as to swing outward-it presses backward the short end 11 of the guard-lever', thus throwing the long arm of said lever inwardly. The end 13 of said long arm consequently pushes the companion knuckle laterally on its pivot until the parts are'in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the knuckles are disengaged from each other and are at liberty to separate. In order to limit the vibration ofthe knuckle I provide a stop 15, against which the end of'the long arm 7 of the knuckle can abut. As shown in Fig. '2, the topand bottom of the draw-head are cast with shoulders 16, against which abut shoulders 17 formed on the knuckle, and thus the outward movement of the knuckle is also limited.

In order to accelerate the closing and interlocking of the knuckles I employ with each guard-lever a spring 18, preferably spiral, which tends to press the long arm ofthe guard-- lever outward and the knuckle inward, and so toneutralize the inertia of the parts. This spring I preferably inclose in an enlargement of the bore of Ithe lever, through which passes the lever-pivot, and around said pivot, and one end ofthe spring bears againstthe drawhead and the other against the long arm of the lever, and thus the spring always tends to throw the. lever outward.

The operation of the device will now be readily apprehended. \V`hen the couplers come together and the knuckles contact with each other, each knuckle will press th-e other outwardly'on its pivot. The knuckes thus force each other apart to their-full extent until they arrive at the position shown in Fig. 5, when they pass each other and interlock, as shown in Fig. 6. Thus the couplers will couple equally well when the knuckles are closed as when they are opentotheirfull extent, since they are so pivotcd and so conformed that their mutual impact will force them open, so

that they can pass each other and interlock. This construction, moreover, admi-ts of coupling within very great limits of lateral variation ofthe respective couplers. 'This is clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, which show the couplers considerably out of line with each other, one figu re showing the variation on one side of the normal and the other on the other side. In either case the pressure of the colliding parts will be in such a direction as to force the knuckles into the locking position.

This feature of my invention is of great importance, because it permits of coupling on quite a sharp curve.

In order to be able to couple with a link and pin when necessary, I provide'a recess 19 in the end of the long arm ot' the guard-lever, forming a pin-hole for coupling wi-th a link and pin. This construction possesses animportant advantage over the customary construction in couplers of the Janney type, which consists in making a pin-hole in the end of the knuckle. The latter construction has been found to be attended withv serious disadvantages. It was not permissible to make the hole of ample size for a couplingpin, for it would too much weaken the end of the knuckle, already very liable to be broken by impact ot' the cars. The consequence is the hole vis made so small that only the smallest size ot' pin, and one that is not bent in the slightest degree, will tit, and the search for such a pin in a railway-yard often causes great delay. Moreover, the pin used, being small, is apt to become bent, and when bent can only be extracted with great loss of time and labor. Vtith my construction, however, the largest size ot" pin can he used without impairing in the least the strength of the knuckle. v

In order to divide up the strain upon the draw-.head1 construct'the lever 9 with shoulders 19, which, when the lever is thrown outward, tit within internal shoulders 2O in the recess 2l ofthe knuckle, which recess receives the end of'thelong ar-m 120E tlielever. Byy this construction it will be seenthat the strain is partly taken through said shoulders 20 and 19 to. the pivot-bolt 10.

Having thus fully described my int ention` what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf- 1. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a hori` zontally swinging knuckle pivoted in the drawhead, having a buffer surface so sloped that the direction of pressure at the point of contactof two such knuckles impacting when both closed and with thedrawheads in alignment, will pass outside the pivotal axes of the knuckles, whereby the pressure will open the y knuckles from their closed position, and having another portion projecting out of the mouth of the drawhead except when the knuckle is in its closed position and arranged to subsequently receive an impact from said opposite knuckle to throw the knuckle inwardly and effect a coupling, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted in the vdrawhead, having a buffer surface so sloped that the direction ofpressure at the point of contact of two such knuckles impacting when both closed and with the drawheads in alignment, will pass outside the pivotal axes of the knuckles, whereby the pressure will open the knuckles from their closed position, and having another portion projecting out of the mouth of the drawhead except when the knuckle is in its closed position and arranged to subsequently receive an impact from said opposite knuckle to throw the knuckle inwardly and eecta coupling, and independent means for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

3. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted in the drawhead, having a buffer surface so sloped that the direction of pressure at the point of .Contact of two such knuckles impacting when both closed and with the drawheads in alignment, will pass outside the pivotal axes ofthe knuckles, whereby the pressure will open the knuckles from their closed position, and having another portion projecting out of the mouth of the drawhead except when the knuckle is in its closed position and arranged to subsequently receive an impact from said opposite knuckle to throw the knuckle inwardly and effect a coupling, and a spring for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

4. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted in the drawhead, having a buffer surface so sloped that the direction of pressure at the point of contact of two such knuckles impacting when both closed and with the drawheads in alignment, will pass outside the pivotal axes of the knuckles, whereby the pressure will open the knuckles from their closed position,and a lever pivoted upon the drawhead and projecting out of the mouth of the drawhead to close -said knuckle by impact of the opposite knuckle, substantially as described.

5. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having aguard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted' on the drawhead, a lever arranged to be actuated by the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead to throw the knuckle in-` ward and effect a coupling, and means, independent of said entering end, for actuating said lever, substantially as described.

6. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on -the drawhead, a lever arranged to be actuated by Y the entering end ofthe similar knuckle ofthe ,Zontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a guard lever interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and actuated by the latter knuckle to close the other,

anda` spring for closing said knuckle, substantially as described.

9. In a car coupling, the combination, with 7o the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a movable guard arranged to be actuated by the entering end of a similar' knuckle of theopposite drawhead, said guard 75 having an operative connection with the iirst knuckle whereby the latter will be moved in.- wardly or closed bythe impact of the opposite knuckle, and independent means for so clos.-

ing said knuckle, substantially as described. 8o

10. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted onthe` drawhead, a movable guard arranged to be actuated by the entering end of a` similar 85 knuckle of the opposite drawhead, said guard` having an operative connectionwith the first knuckle whereby the latter will be moved inwardly or closed by the impact of the opposite knuckle, and a spring for so closing said 9o knuckle, substantially as described.

1l. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead provided with a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, a movable guard interposed between the knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and operatively connected withthe knuckle so that an outward movement of the guard will produce an inward movement of the knuckle, and inroo dependent means for so moving said knuckle inwardly, substantially as described.

I2. In a car couplingfthe combination, with the drawhead provided with a guard arm, of a' horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted there- 105 on, a movable guard interposed between the knuckle and the entering end of thesimilar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and operatively connected with the knuckle so that an outward movement of the guard will pro- 11o duce an inward movementof the knuckle,and

a spring for so moving said knuckle, substantially as described. t

13. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the 1 15 knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, and a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead, whereof one arm is arranged tu be actuated by the entering end of a similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and the otherarm engages-the first [zo knuckle tothrow it inwardly, substantially as described.

14. `In a car coupling, the combination, with` the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the m5 drawhead, and a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead, whereof one arm is arranged to be actuated by the entering end of a similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and the other arm engages the first knuckle to throw 15o it inwardly, substantially as described.

15. In a car coupling,the combination, with the drawhead havinga guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivot-ed on the drawhead,a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead, whereof one arm is arranged to be actuated by the entering end-of a similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and the other arm 'engages the first knuckle to throw it inwardly, and independent means for actuating said knuckle inwardly, substantially as described.

16. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead whereof one arm is arranged tobe actuated by the entering end of a similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and the other arm engages the first knuckle to throw it inwardly,`

and a spring for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

17. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead, of the swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, and a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead in the rear of the knuckle and having an arm interposed-between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle ofthe opposite drawhead and actuated by said end, said lever also hav- `ing an arm engaging the iirst knuckle to throw it inwardly, substantially as described.

1S. In acar coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally' swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, and a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead in the rear of the knuckle and having au arm interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead and actuated by said end, said lever also having an arm engaging the first knuckle Ato throw it inwardly, substantially as described. l

19. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead in the rear of the knuckle and having an arm interposed between said knuckle and the entering end ofthe similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead and actuated by said end, said lever also having an arm engaging the first knuckle to throw it inwardly, and independent means for actuating said lever, substantially as described.

20. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a guard lever pivoted on the drawhead in the rear of the knuckle and having an arm interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead and actuated by said end, said lever also having an arm engaging the iirst knuckle to throw it inwardly, and a spring for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

2l. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead provided with a guard arm, of a knuckle pivoted thereon, and a lever pivoted on said drawhead, one arm of said lever being moved inwardly, and thus pressing outward on its pivot the entering end of the simi- `lar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, by the outward movement of the knuckle actuating another arm of said lever, substantially as described.

22. In acar coupling, the combination, with the drawhead provided with a guard arm, ot' a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, and a lever pivoted on said drawhead, one arm of said lever being moved inwardly, and thus pressing outward on its pivot the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, by the outward movement of the knuckle actuating another arm of said lever, substantially as described.

23. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead provided with a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, a lever pivoted on said drawhead, one arm of said lever being moved inwardly, and thus pressing outward on its pivot the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, by the outward movement of the knuckle actuating another arm of said lever, and a spring resisting said movement, substantially as described.

2l. In a carcoupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, and a lever vibrating oppositely to said knuckle and arranged to be actuated by the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead to throw the knuckle inward and effect a coupling, substantially as described.

-25. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a hori- Zontally swinging knuckle pivoted lon the drawhead, a lever vibratingoppositely to said knuckle and arranged to be actuated by the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead to throw the knuckle inwardly and effect a coupling, and means independent of said entering end, for actuating said lever, substantially as described.

2G. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of a hori- ,Zontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a lever vibrating oppositely to said knuckle and arranged to be actuated by the entering end of the similar knuckle of the.

opposite drawhead to throw the knuckle inwardly, and effect a coupling, and a spring for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

27. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging U -shaped knuckle pivoted through its rear arm upon the drawhead, its bend receiving the nose of the opposite similar knuckle, and operative mechanism forinwardly swinging said knuckle arranged thov beV actuated by thetransverse inward movement of the opposite knuckle, substantially as described.

28. In a car coupling, thecombination,with the drawhead havinga guard arm, ot' thehorizontally swinging U-shaped knuckle pivoted through its rear arm upon the drawhead, its bend receiving the nose of the opposite similar knuckle,` operative mechanism `for inwardly swinging said knuckle arranged to be actuated by the transverse inward movement of the opposite knuckle, and a spring for so swinging said knuckle, substantially as described:

29. In a car coupling, the combination with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging U-shaped knuckle pivoted through its rear arm upon the drawhead, and

a guard lever interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle of the opposite drawhead, and actuated by the latter knuckle to close the other, substantially as described.

30. In a carcoupling, the combination with thedrawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging U-shaped knuckle pivoted through its rear arm upon the drawhead, a guard lever interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle ofthe opposite drawhead, and actuated by the latter knuckle to close the other, and a spring for so closing said knuckle, substantially as described.

3l. In a car coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging U-shaped knuckle the rear arm of which engages the drawhead to transmit the pull thereto through said rear arm, and ejector mechanism, actuated by the outward movement of said knuckle, for moving outward the other knuckle, substantially as described.

32. In acar coupling, the combination, with the drawhead having a guard arm, of the horizontally swinging U-shaped knuckle the rear arm of which engages the drawhead to transmit the pull thereto through said rear arm, and a lever, actuated by the outward movement of the knuckle, and engaging the end of the opposite knuckle to eject it from the drawhead, substantially as described.,

33. In a car coupling, the combination with the drawhead having a guard arm of a horizontally swinging knuckle centrally pivoted therein and a lever actuated by the inward pivotal movement of the opposite similar knuckle, to move its knuckle inwardly, substantially as described.

34. In a car coupling, the combination with the drawhead having a guard arm of a horizontally swinging knuckle centrally pivoted therein and a lever actuated by the inward pivotal movement of the opposite similar knuckle, to move its knuckle inwardly, and independent means for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

35. In a car coupling, the combination with the drawhead having a guard arm of a horizontally swinging knuckle centrally pivoted therein and a lever actuated by the inward pivotal movement of the opposite similar knuckle, to move its knuckle inwardly, and a spring for so throwing said knuckle, substantially as described.

36. In acar coupling, thecombination,with

the drawhead havinga guard arm, of the hori# zontally swinging U-sbaped knuckle pivoted through its rear arm upon the drawhead, and an arm swinging on the drawhead extending across the rear arm of the knuckle and havingin its end a recess to receive apin for link and pincoupling, said recess being wholly open on the side next the knuckle whereby the strain upon the pin is wholly borne by said knuckle, substantially as described.

37. In a car coupling, the combination, with a drawhead and a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, said knuckle being slotted to permit the passage therethrough of a link, of a pin support movable relatively to the knuckle, said knuckle being recessed to receive the pin support when not in use, substantially as described.

38. In a car coupling, the combination, with a drawhead and a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, said knuckle being slotted to permit the passage therethrough of a link, of a pin support movable relatively to the knuckle, and when in position to receive the pin permitting the Whole strain of the pin to bear against the rear of the knuckle, said knuckle being recessed to receive the pin support when not in use, substantially as described.

39. In a car coupling, the combination,with a drawhead and a horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted thereon, said knuckle being slotted to permit the passage therethrough ot a link, ofa pin support on the drawhead independent of the knuckle, said knuckle being recessed to receive the pin support when not in use, substantially as described.

40. In a car coupling,the combination with the drawhead, of the horizontally swinging knuckle pivoted on the drawhead, a guard lever interposed between said knuckle and the entering end of the similar knuckle ot the opposite drawhead, and actuated by the lattoo ter knuckle to close the other, said lever bei ing recessed to form a pin-hole for a link and pin coupling, substantially as described.

41. In a car coupling, the combination of the drawhead, the knuckle 4 pivoted thereon, and the guard lever 9, also pivoted on the drawhead, said knuckle and lever having opposite vibratory movements, substantially as described.

42. In a car coupling, the combination of' the drawhead, the knuckle 4 pivoted thereon, the guard lever 9, also pivoted on the drawhead, said knuckle and lever having opposite vibratory movements, and the spring 18, actuating saidl lever and knuckle, substantially as described.

43. In a car coupling, the combination of the drawhead, the knuckle 4, having the the guard lever 9 passing through said fork, forked arm whereby it is pivoted on the drawand the spring 18 actuating seid lever and head, and the guard lever 9 passing through knuckle, substantially as described.

said fork, substantially es described. PHILIP C. BROWN. 5 44. In a car coupling, the combination of Vitnesses:

the drawhead the knuckle 4,ha.ving the forked E. A. PAUL,

arm whereby it is pivoted on the drawhead, OLIA F. JOHNSON. 

